Written Answers Friday 30 September 2005

Scottish Executive

Biofuels

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet the EU target of biofuels accounting for 5% of all fuel consumption by 2010.

Tavish Scott: The EU Directive on biofuels (2003/30/EC) requires member states to set indicative targets for biofuel sales by 2010, with a reference value of 5.75% of all petrol and diesel sold for transport purposes. A target has not yet been set for the UK.

  With the Department for Transport, we are currently considering how best to meet the requirements of the Directive. This includes liaison with them on the consideration of a possible introduction of a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). A RTFO could provide a mechanism to ensure the gradual substitution of fossil fuels for biofuels - and other renewable transport fuels - over the long-term. However, no decisions have been taken on this as yet.

Biofuels

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage filling stations to stock biofuels.

Tavish Scott: The stocking of biofuels is a commercial matter for fuel manufacturers and retailers. However, the Scottish Executive has provided funding of £1.2 million through a Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant towards the construction near Motherwell of Scotland’s first large scale biodiesel plant by the Argent Group. The plant became operational earlier this year and produces biodiesel from a variety of raw materials, including used cooking oils and animal fats - material previously considered waste. The plant is now fully operational, and we expect that this will lead to increased availability of this fuel in Scotland.

  Furthermore, we expect the 20 pence per litre fuel duty differential for biodiesel, introduced by the UK Government in July 2002, and a similar differential for bioethanol, introduced in January this year, will help to stimulate sales of biofuels in Scotland.

Compulsory Purchase

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in relation to land which has been subject to a compulsory purchase order but which is subsequently not required for the purpose specified when the order was made.

Johann Lamont: Circular 38/1992: Disposal of Surplus Government Land – The Crichel Down Rules sets out the non-statutory arrangements under which surplus Government land which was acquired by, or under a threat of, compulsion should be offered back to former owners, their successors, or to sitting tenants.

  A copy of Circular 38/1992 is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37537).

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is a statutory duty of the Crofters Commission to impose a tenant on an absentee croft owner or croft owner-occupier who does not keep a croft in good order.

Rhona Brankin: The Crofters Commission does not have a duty to impose a tenant on any croft owner. The commission may require any croft owner (whether or not the owner is an absentee) to submit proposals for re-letting a vacant croft. If the owner fails to do so or the commission refuses to approve these proposals then the commission may re-let the croft. As a matter of policy, the commission has exercised it’s discretion by not asking for re-letting proposals where the croft is occupied by either the former croft tenant or any successor in title to that former tenant.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many treatment courses of the antiviral drug, Tamiflu, it has purchased.

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has on the effectiveness of stockpiling Oseltamivir to reduce the impact of an influenza pandemic and how many doses of Oseltamivir it has obtained.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has ordered approximately 1.3 million courses of oseltamivir (known as Tamiflu), an antiviral medicine (not a vaccine) which may reduce deaths and complications from flu, as part of the UK contract for delivery over the next two financial years. This will enable us to treat one in four of the population – the proportion which the WHO recommends we plan for. If there are insufficient supplies, anti-virals will be provided according to the same priorities as for vaccination, as set out in the Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan.

  As stated in the plan, the effectiveness of anti-viral treatment in a pandemic is not known.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the development by NHS boards of multi-agency contingency plans for an outbreak of pandemic influenza.

Mr Andy Kerr: Plans have been in place since 1997. All NHS boards have submitted their Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plans to the Scottish Executive for initial review. The Scottish Executive will provided feedback to NHS boards to enable them to further develop their plans.

  A revised UK Pandemic Plan will be issued shortly, as will a revised Scottish version which reflects the different organisational arrangements in Scotland. Additional guidance will also be issued to NHS boards. These materials will be used to assist in making further improvement to individual NHS board plans. Once that process has taken place, NHS boards will be asked to resubmit their plans for further scrutiny.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be made available to NHS boards in the event of an outbreak of pandemic influenza.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is working with NHSScotland on the planning arrangements for any potential outbreak of pandemic influenza. The extent of the additional resources required will be dependent on the nature and extent of that outbreak.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the target rate for the uptake of immunisation against infection in the event of an influenza pandemic will be, assuming that an effective vaccine has been obtained.

Mr Andy Kerr: The target rate for the uptake of immunisation against infection in the event of an influenza pandemic will be dependant on a number of factors including the number of people affected by the virus and expert medical advice.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether arrangements in Scotland meet the UK Department of Health’s timetable for (a) rolling out an influenza pandemic plan and (b) meeting the target for vaccine procurement.

Mr Andy Kerr: The timetable for arrangements for pandemic influenza is being taken forward on a UK basis. The UK is in the forefront of preparations for pandemic influenza and Scotland has been working closely with Health Departments across the UK to put such preparations in place.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to publicise the steps that the public should take to minimise the risk of transmission and infection in the event of an outbreak of an influenza pandemic.

Mr Andy Kerr: Plans have been in place since 1997, and a newly updated UK Health Department’s UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan, taking into account the latest available information, was published on the 1 March 2005. A version reflecting organisational arrangements in Scotland was published on the Scottish Executive website at the same time.

  Measures in the plan include informing the public about the likely risks of a pandemic and what they should do and being prepared to take steps to reduce the risk of spread such as advising against certain travel, possibly closing schools and cancelling events where large crowds gather.

  The Scottish Executive wants to keep people informed about the risks of a pandemic and what is being done to minimise the impact it would have. That is why the contingency plan has been published. The Scottish Executive recognises that improving preparedness is an on-going process. Issuing the plan and seeking feedback is an important step in this work. Plans will continue to be updated as appropriate.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to hasten the development of a vaccine in the event of an outbreak of influenza pandemic.

Mr Andy Kerr: Until the pandemic strain is identified it will not be possible to produce a vaccine. However, the Scottish Executive is working closely with the UK Health Departments to ensure that all necessary preparations are in place to facilitate vaccine production when that becomes necessary.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the phases specified in the UK Influenza Pandemic Plan published in March 1997 became inconsistent with the phases which trigger public health action, as defined by the World Health Organization, and when it anticipates that the World Health Organization will next amend the phases.

Mr Andy Kerr: The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced new pandemic influenza planning phases in 1999 which were then inconsistent with the 1997 UK Health Departments' Influenza Pandemic Plan. A newly updated plan, taking into account the latest available information, was published on 1 March 2005. This plan was consistent with the 1999 WHO phasing. However, the World Health Organization phases have since been revised again. The next version of the UK plan will incorporate these changes.

Emergency Planning

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in deciding whether to purchase protection for care workers, health workers and groups at risk in the event of a pandemic.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is working closely with Health Departments across the UK to prepare for pandemic influenza.

  Until the pandemic influenza strain is identified, it will not be possible to produce a vaccine. However, the Scottish Executive has decided, on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the expert group which advises the UK Health Departments on issues relating to immunisation and vaccination, that it would be prudent as a precautionary measure to purchase a small quantity of a vaccine against the current H5N1 strain. 270,000 doses are being ordered for priority groups, such as NHS workers.

  The SIPG, Scottish Implementation Planning Group (for severe communicable diseases which threaten national infrastructure) is currently considering what protection might be required for use by care workers, health workers and groups at risk in the event of a pandemic.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to pursue a scientific study of the ability of the causeways and storm defences in the Western Isles to withstand any increase in severe weather events due to climate change.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive is working closely with the UK Government and the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) to develop a comprehensive adaptation strategy to ensure Scotland as a whole is prepared for the threats posed by climate change. More specific research, including on wave heights, has been carried out by The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research with the involvement of the University of the Highlands and Islands. One of the focus areas considered in this study was the west of Scotland, including the Western Isles. The report is available at:

  http://tyndall.e-collaboration.co.uk/research/theme4/final_reports/it1_15.pdf.

  The Executive has brought this and similar research studies to the attention of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to enable it to take account of the most up to date knowledge when considering the repair and improvement of any coastal structures. The council has a key role to play in raising awareness of the impacts of climate change and in implementing adaptation measures.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the use of temporary and moveable electric fencing to manage the growth of natural storm defences, such as dunes, using marram grass.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive recognises that the coast of Scotland is a complex environment where many of the interactions between natural processes and human activities are not always well understood.

  Scottish Natural Heritage consider the use of dune fencing as one of a wide range of coast protection methods. These are reviewed in A guide to managing coastal erosion in beach/dune systems (SNH 2000), available at:

  http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/heritagemanagement/erosion/index.shtml.

  This manual has been distributed to local authorities and other interested parties in Scotland, to assist them in their management of dune systems.

  The Executive provides support to participants in agri-environment schemes for the provision of temporary fencing to assist the management of areas of conservation interest on their land. This includes dunes and areas planted with marram grass. Electric fencing is used where grazing animals are believed to be causing damage to dune-building plants to encourage their regeneration.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to crofting communities in the Western Isles to develop and protect natural storm defences, such as dunes.

Rhona Brankin: There is no special support available to crofting communities for this purpose. However, Western Isles Council has discretionary powers under the Coast Protection Act 1949 to contribute towards the costs of any coast protection measures the Council considers necessary or expedient to protect any land from erosion by the sea.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the system of early warning of storms and tidal surges around Scotland’s coastline.

Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19383 on 30 September 2005. which outlines the existing arrangements for the provision of coastal flood warning schemes. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search engine for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  As far as improvements to the system are concerned, the Executive, in conjunction with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), is considering a review of coastal flood risk arrangements and the value of additional coastal flood warning schemes for all Scottish coastal areas. SEPA recently met with the Environment Agency’s Tidal Forecasting User Group following which it was confirmed that there would be a benefit to including Scotland in the Storm Tide Forecasting Service alerts currently issued for England and Wales. SEPA is now part of a pilot scheme to trial this service for Scotland.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what system is in place for ensuring that information about predicted tidal surges is passed to local authorities and communities that may be affected.

Rhona Brankin: It is for Scottish local authorities to identify areas at risk from high sea levels. Where such areas are identified, the local authority can ask the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to consider installing a flood warning scheme.

  To date SEPA has installed one formal coastal flood warning scheme, for the Firth of Clyde. Warnings for this area are issued to the Police, Fire Brigade, Marine Coastguard Agency and to some or all of the relevant local authorities depending on the areas forecast to be affected by the high sea levels. On receipt of a flood warning, the emergency services and local authorities implement their flooding response plans.

Environment

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive the average time for forensic evidence to be processed was in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally. The average time taken to process forensic evidence varies considerably depending on the nature of the sample and the analysis which is required.

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions were made in the latest tender document for ferry services to the Northern Isles for a dedicated livestock/freight vessel to provide year-round transport of livestock from Orkney to markets on the mainland.

Tavish Scott: The Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract includes a requirement covering the carriage of livestock on the routes supported from Orkney to the mainland. The detailed requirements, including the arrangements for vessels, are set out in sections 3.10 and 3.13 of the ITT document which was published by the Executive in July 2005. A copy of this is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37566).

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was given to the inclusion in the latest tender document for ferry services to the Northern Isles of provisions for a dedicated livestock/freight vessel to provide year-round transport of livestock from Orkney to markets on the mainland.

Tavish Scott: The Executive considered this issue during the consultation on the draft service specification issued in May 2004. The draft service specification proposed the incorporation of livestock and freight in the contract, and the Executive was able to consider the implications, including the requirements for any dedicated livestock/freight vessels, in detailed discussions with the livestock sector in Orkney, including the Northern Isles Livestock Working Group, and other organisations involved before finalising the Invitation to Tender (ITT) . The conclusions reached are set out in sections 3.10 and 3.13 of the ITT available in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 37566).

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies and stakeholder groups it consulted before drafting the latest tender document for ferry services to the Northern Isles.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive published a consultation paper on the draft service specification for the Northern Isles lifeline ferry service on 27 May 2004 on the Scottish Executive website. In addition, copies of the consultation paper were sent to the following organisations:

  Shetland Islands Council

  Orkney Islands Council

  The Highland Council

  HITRANS

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Shetland Enterprise

  Orkney Enterprise

  Orkney Tourist Board

  Shetland Islands Tourism

  Orkney Chamber of Commerce

  Orkney Quality Food and Drink

  Shetland Fishermens Association

  Shetland Fish Producers Organisation

  Orkney Fisheries Association

  Orkney Fish Farmers Association

  Seafood Shetland

  Scottish Crofters Union

  Shetland Branch National Farmers Union

  Orkney Branch of NFU Scotland

  Shetland Livestock Marketing Group

  Shetland Transport Ltd

  Orkney Auction Mart

  Northwards Ltd

  Jim Brackenridge (Transport) Ltd

  Highlands and Islands Livestock Ltd

  Scotbeef

  Aberdeen and Northern Marts Ltd

  Association of Shetland Community Councils

  Stromness Community Business Forum

  ERAD Office, Kirkwall

  Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland Secretariat

  Scottish Civic Forum

  Aberdeen Harbour Board

  Lerwick Port Authority

  Orkney Harbour Authority

  Scrabster Harbour Trust

  Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd

  Irish Continental Group plc

  NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd

  Pentland Ferries Limited

  Smyril Line

  Streamline Shipping Group Limited

  Western Ferries Ltd

  V.Ships UK Limited

  The Caithness Courier

  The John o’ Groats Journal

  The Orcadian Limited

  Orkney Today

  The Shetland Times

  Department for Transport

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency

  Scotland Office

  The Office Of The UK Permanent Representative To The EU

  Brian Adam MSP

  Lewis Macdonald MSP

  Jamie Stone MSP

  Tavish Scott MSP

  Jim Wallace MSP

  Rob Gibson MSP

  Jamie McGrigor MSP

  Maureen Macmillan MSP

  Jim Mather MSP

  Mary Scanlon MSP

  Eleanor Scott MSP.

  In addition, consultation meetings were held with the Shetland Islands Council’s Environment and Transport Forum on 16 June 2004 and with the Orkney Area Lifeline Ferry Services Consultative Committee on 28 June 2004.

  A report on the results of the consultation was published on the Scottish Executive website on 30 September 2004, as were the responses from organisations and individuals who had agreed to publication of their response.

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all bodies and stakeholder groups that it consulted before drafting the tender document for ferry services to the Northern Isles were given the opportunity to present reports outlining their concerns prior to publication of the tender document.

Tavish Scott: The Executive conducted a full and well publicised consultation exercise beginning in May 2004 on the draft service specification for the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract. In addition, meetings were held in Orkney and Shetland to allow for detailed discussion with key interests and stakeholders, and further meetings were subsequently held with livestock interests about the draft service specification, in particular with the Northern Isles Livestock Transportation Working Group. A report on the consultation exercise was published on the Executive website in September 2004. The Executive considers that this process provided ample opportunity for all those involved to make their views known before the publication of the Invitation to Tender document in July 2005.

Ferry Services

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop dedicated and affordable livestock sea transport from Orkney and Shetland to mainland Scotland.

Tavish Scott: The Executive has set out its plans for the transportation of livestock from the Northern Isles to the Scottish mainland in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract issued to short listed bidders. The detail of the plans is given in sections 3.10 and 3.13 of the ITT which was published by the Executive in July 2005. A copy of this is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37566).

Ferry Services

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having, and with which operators, in respect of developing coastal shipping services linking east coast ports with (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland, (c) Iceland, (d) the Faroe Islands and (e) continental Europe.

Tavish Scott: In general, the development of such coastal shipping services is a commercial matter for shipping operators to consider. We do, however, have a role in circumstances where financial support is necessary to maintain essential lifeline services to island communities, which is why we are currently re-tendering the Northern Isles ferry contract and tendering for a new Northern Isles lift-on lift-off freight contract.

  We have had no discussions with any shipping operators about shipping services from Scotland to Iceland or the Faroes.

  New and improved ferry links to Europe have the potential to increase trade and tourism and take lorry traffic off busy Scottish routes. However, such services must prove commercially viable if they are to succeed as our ability to offer financial support is limited. We shall be considering all possible means of encouraging new developments, in line with our Partnership Agreement commitment to improve ferry links to Europe, including the possibility of Freight Facilities Grant or the Waterborne Freight Grant, where a new service would reduce lorry miles.

Ferry Services

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it released information regarding the tendering of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry services to any MSP before the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications issued the notice of his intentions in this respect.

Tavish Scott: In line with normal Scottish Executive practice, ministers with a portfolio interest were involved in considering the decision relating to the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service and the arrangements for the announcement of that decision. No other MSPs were informed, in advance, of the announcement.

First Minister

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18152 by Mr Tom McCabe on 1 September 2005, whether it will give the (a) date of, (b) location of and (c) topics discussed at each of the 11 meetings that have taken place between the First Minister and Prime Minister on government business since November 2001.

Mr Tom McCabe: Meetings between the Prime Minister and the First Minister are held in confidence. Details of the meetings listed in the answer to question S2W-18152 are set out in the following table. That list is not a complete list of all meetings they have had during the period in question; it does not include meetings other than those held under official auspices, such as political or personal meetings, or encounters at larger gatherings.

  Meetings Between First Minister and Prime Minister

  

 Date of Meeting
 Location of Meeting


 30 November 2001
 British Irish Council meeting, Dublin Castle


 14 June 2002
 British Irish Council meeting, Jersey


 22 February 2002
 Visit to Dundee Technopole 


 7 May 2002
 Meeting and lunch following unveiling of Donald Dewar Memorial Glasgow


 16 January 2003
 Visit to St Leonards Police Station, Edinburgh and a Q and A event at the Albert Halls, Stirling


 3 February 2003
 Downing Street


 14 February 2003
 Visit in Glasgow 


 27 February 2004
 Visit in Inverness 


 5 July 2004
 Downing Street.


 3 December 2004
 Visit to Royal Bank of Scotland (Drummond House) followed by PM Lecture at Napier University Edinburgh


 4 March 2005
 Visit to Baxter Glebe Park, Dundee

Forensic Science

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many forensic science centres there are in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: There are four forensic science laboratories located in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.

Forensic Science

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many forensic scientists there were in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: A total of 201 scientific staff are currently employed at the four forensic science laboratories in Scotland. Comparable figures are not available for previous years.

Fuel Poverty

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with children and in fuel poverty, as defined in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2002, live in buildings rated (a) poor, (b) moderate and (c) good.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Scottish House Condition Survey 2002 (SHCS2002) estimated the building’s NHER rating for households that were in fuel poverty and also contained children. A table containing the SHCS2002 estimates is given in the following table.

  

 NHER Rating
 No of Fuel Poor Households with Children
 % of Fuel Poor Households with Children


 poor
 10,000
 36


 moderate
 14,000
 50


 good
 4,000
 14


 Total
 28,000
 100

Fuel Poverty

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with children and in fuel poverty, as defined in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2002, live in buildings with no central heating systems.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Scottish House Condition Survey 2002 (SHCS2002) estimated that the number of households with children and in fuel poverty, as defined in the SHCS 2002, that had no central heating system was approximately 5,000.

Fuel Poverty

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with children and in fuel poverty, as defined in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2002, are in receipt of a disability benefit related to a child.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  This information is not available from the Scottish House Condition Survey.

Fuel Poverty

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children, as distinct from households with children, live in fuel poverty as defined in the Scottish House Condition Survey 2002.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Scottish House Condition Survey 2002 (SHCS2002) estimated that the number of children that live in fuel poverty is approximately 46,000.

Fuel Poverty

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any request for information from NHS Highland regarding the cost of services within the NHS Argyll and Clyde area transferring to it and, in particular, the (a) resource allocation that this area will attract, (b) share of any in-year deficit that remains outstanding and (c) contribution which NHS Highland will be required to make in respect of NHS Argyll and Clyde's recovery proposals and, if so, whether it has provided, or will provide, the information.

Mr Andy Kerr: I am not aware of any formal requests from NHS Highland regarding the cost of services within the NHS Argyll and Clyde area transferring to it under the proposals for the dissolution of the board. However, the Health Department is currently analysing the impact on the Arbuthnott-based resource allocation and on patient movements for NHS Highland and NHS Greater Glasgow, under each of the options identified in the consultation document. The department will share the results of these analyses with each of the three boards once they are available.

  NHS Argyll and Clyde has been and will continue to work closely with NHS Highland, NHS Greater Glasgow and the Health Department as we move towards the dissolution and integration of the board and is addressing items (b) and (c) above.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will meet the recommendations contained in the report by the Scottish Women’s Convention Women and Health: Maternity Service Provision Policy Group, We just can't let these things happen, that women should have informed choice about where, how and in what circumstances they have their babies, regardless of where they live.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive produced A Framework for Maternity Services in 2001, this was followed by the reports of the Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services in 2003 and the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Standards for Maternity Services in 2005. The recommendations contained in the Scottish Women’s Convention report broadly re-iterate the conclusions of these documents. NHS boards are expected to deliver local maternity services in line with these reports, all of which emphasise informed maternal choice.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to each NHS board for NHS publications in each of the last six years.

Mr Andy Kerr: No specific allocations are made to NHS boards for NHS publications. The costs of NHS publications are met from the annual allocation each NHS board receives to meet the health care needs of its resident population.

Heritage

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, whether it is satisfied, as a partner in the Management Plan of Edinburgh World Heritage, that the plan is delivering the objective "to maintain archives and collections relating to the World Heritage in the best possible condition", one of the objectives "of primary importance" referred to in chapter 6.

Patricia Ferguson: The Management Plan for the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site was launched in July. It was prepared by Edinburgh World Heritage, which is charged with taking forward the implementation of the Management Plan with the support of key partners, including Scottish ministers and the City of Edinburgh Council. Archives and data collections are important tools in recording, managing and understanding any historic site and their maintenance has been recognised as an important objective in promoting an understanding of the Site in the Management Plan. For the Edinburgh World Heritage Site, these are held by a number of bodies including the City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Scotland, RCAHMS and the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. Edinburgh World Heritage is currently preparing the first action plan, which will identify how the objectives set out in the management plan are to be addressed. Scottish ministers, through Historic Scotland, will be consulted on the action plan.

Historic Scotland

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the key performance targets set for Historic Scotland for 2005-06.

Patricia Ferguson: The key performance targets I have set for Historic Scotland for 2005-06, along with the previous year’s targets and performance, are set out in the following table:

  

 Target 2005-06
 Target 2004-05
 Performance 2004-05


 Scheduling – 31 parishes in Strathdon (Aberdeenshire) and around Inverness 
 10 parishes
 Achieved


 Listing - Complete the resurvey of the Cairngorms National Park and the burgh of Galashiels
 Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, and Antonine Wall proposed world heritage site and buffer zone.
 Achieved


 Number of weeks in which 80% of scheduled monument consent cases resolved - 9
 80% within 9 weeks
 Achieved


 % of listed building and conservation area consent cases resolved within 28 days – 97%
 97%
 Achieved


 Condition surveys for Properties in Care - 33
 26
 32


 Historic Scotland earned income - £22.35 million 
£21.5 million
£21.565 million


 Performance rating from mystery visit programme – 88%
 88.5%
 85.9%


 Performance rating from education visit appraisal forms – 92%
 90%
 95.8%


 Cash-releasing efficiency gains on all non grant expenditure – 1%
 1%
 1.38%

Historic Scotland

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a progress report on the implementation of the recommendations made in the Review of Historic Scotland published in February 2004.

Patricia Ferguson: Significant progress has been made in implementing the recommendations both of the quinquennial Review of Historic Scotland and the Performance and Management Review carried out by Audit Scotland. The following tables provide information on how Historic Scotland has responded to each recommendation.

  Historic Scotland Performance Management Review

  1. The Audit Scotland Performance Management Review of Historic Scotland was published on 12 February 2004. Historic Scotland established a change management group which considered and is implementing the recommendations made. This paper reports on progress.

  

 Audit Scotland Recommendation
 Historic Scotland Response and Actions Taken


 Recommendation 1
 


 Review how HS’s responsibilities and the accountability for them are communicated to stakeholders.
 Historic Scotland's Framework Document sets out the relationships and accountability for the Agency's work. We have restructured and expanded our Communications Team, including providing additional support for the revamped HS website (launched on 16 June 2004). A Communication Strategy has been approved by the Historic Scotland Board.


 Recommendation 2
 


 Consider reintroducing a performance target for absolute visitor numbers.
 Historic Scotland's Corporate Plan now includes a target for earned income. Beneath this top-line target, we have a range of indicators which includes visitor numbers and spend per head on admissions and retail.


 Recommendation 3
 


 In consultation with stakeholders, clarify the activities the agency should undertake to contribute to the SE’s social, economic and environmental policies, and define performance information in relation to this.
 One of Historic Scotland’s five aims as set out in the new Framework Document is to contribute to the other policies of the Scottish Executive. This is being further developed through the corporate planning process, which now incorporates consultation with key stakeholders such as HEACS, BEFS, local authorities and local enterprise companies as well as wider consultation through the website. The Corporate Plan sets out the steps the agency is taking to meet wider SE objectives and progress against the plan will be regularly monitored by senior management.


 Recommendation 4
 


 Consider further how HS objectives can be linked to wider policy objectives expressed in such statements as A Smart Successful Scotland, A Partnership for a Better Scotland and the Executive’s Social Justice Milestones.
 Historic Scotland has addressed this issue in the corporate planning process.


 Recommendation 5
 


 Make explicit in its objectives and activities the role of HS on advice and support to Ministers, and provide information about performance of this function in the Annual Report.
 Historic Scotland has addressed this issue in the corporate planning process and will report on this in Annual Reports.


 Recommendation 6
 


 Review whether further performance measures could be introduced relating to the costs and quality of protection and conservation services.
 Historic Scotland has addressed this issue in the corporate planning process. A Condition Survey for every property in care will be completed by 31 March 2006 (key performance target). This will provide a baseline record of condition leading to a clearly stated conservation strategy for each site. It will also assist in determining priorities and resource allocation.


 Recommendation 7
 


 Set out in the annual report an assessment of the impact of research and development activities.
 Historic Scotland will include this in its Annual Reports.


 Recommendation 8
 


 Provide information in the Annual Report on the extent to which corporate objectives and targets have been met and any problems faced in doing this.
 Historic Scotland reports on the annual performance of its key performance indicators in its Annual Report. A range of targets and indicators featured in the Corporate Plan for 2004-05. Performance will be reported on in the Annual Report.


 Recommendation 9
 


 Set out in the Annual Report the extent to which corporate objectives and targets have been met and any problems faced in doing this.
 Effectively the same recommendation as number 8.


 Recommendation 10
 


 Identify the resources to be assigned to each of the key objectives in the corporate plan over the three-year planning cycle and link this to performance reporting.
 The resources and targets and indicators were identified against each of the key objectives in the Corporate Plan 2004-05. 


 Recommendation 11
 


 Consider appointing an independent non-executive member to the Management Board.
 Historic Scotland have appointed, using Nolan procedures, 3 external members to the Management Board. 


 Recommendation 12
 


 Appoint at least one member to the Audit Committee who is independent of both HS and the SE, and ensure that the terms of such appointment are clearly defined.
 One of the external members has been appointed as Chairperson of the Audit Committee. An additional external member has also been appointed. 


 Recommendation 13
 


 Put in place effective procedures for monitoring progress against the wider objectives outlined in the Corporate Plan, and not just the performance targets.
 A range of targets and indicators were developed and identified in the Corporate Plan for 2004-05. Performance will be reported on in the Annual Report in 2005-06. 


 Recommendation 14
 


 Consider the scope for widening benchmarking activities.
 Historic Scotland will seek to benchmark a wider range of its activities with other organisations. 


 Recommendation 15
 


 HS should make available to the public the conclusions reached following the consultation on the Historic Building Repairs Grants Scheme, describe the action taken to date and what further action is proposed. This should include the adoption of measures that describe performance.
 A report on the consultation responses and actions taken is on the Historic Scotland website. The further review has been undertaken in consultation with stakeholders. Details of the review and its outcome are on the Historic Scotland website.


 Recommendation 16
 


 Identify measures that describe the performance of the repair grants scheme.
 New procedures have been agreed for the Repair Grants scheme and Historic Scotland is considering and will introduce appropriate performance indicators as part of the corporate planning process.


 Recommendation 17
 


 Estimate and set out the future requirements for repair grants and for the maintenance of properties in care.
 Following advice from HEACS, Scottish Ministers have announced that Historic Scotland will be leading on carrying out an audit of the historic environment. This will begin in 2006-07. The assessment of need for historic building repair grant will be informed by the audit. The Condition Survey programme for the Properties in Care will complete its first round in 2005/06, providing a benchmark for assessing future requirements for historic fabric repairs. Other planned preventative maintenance (PPM) will be audited to assess other maintenance requirements.



  Historic Scotland Structure and Functions Review

  2. The Review of Historic Scotland was published on 12 February 2004 along with the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport's agreement to the recommendations made by the Review Working Group. Historic Scotland welcomed the publication of the review and established a change management team to take forward its recommendations. This paper reports how Historic Scotland has taken forward each of the recommendations.

  

Historic Review Recommendations
Historic Scotland Response and Actions Taken


Recommendation 1
 


All of the functions currently delivered by Historic Scotland should be delivered by a single organisation. Separation of the properties in care functions from Historic Scotland’s regulatory and policy functions would not result in increased protection for the sites. 
Historic Scotland welcomed this recommendation.


Recommendation 2
 


Historic Scotland should remain as an Executive Agency. This does not imply maintenance of the status quo as there is a clear need for cultural change. 
Historic Scotland welcomed the recommendation and committed to developing its culture as an open and approachable organisation that engages with stakeholders and works in partnership with others. Please see individual recommendations below for actions taken.


Recommendation 3
 


Tourism, Culture and Sport is the most appropriate current portfolio for Historic Scotland which should continue to be part of the Education Department. 
Historic Scotland welcomed this recommendation.


Recommendation 4
 


It would reinforce the independence of HEACS if the secretariat for the organisation was independent within Historic Scotland. 
Historic Scotland had already recognised this and, with the agreement of HEACS, implemented new arrangements whereby the Secretary is on detached duty to HEACS. Staff reporting is undertaken jointly with the Chair of HEACS and the Secretary is able to call on Historic Scotland for administrative and back-up support.


Recommendation 5
 


An Executive endorsed policy statement for the historic environment in Scotland should be developed in consultation with stakeholders, building on the First Minister’s St. Andrew’s Day speech and the National Cultural Strategy.
This process was begun with the statement on the historic environment issued by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport on 12 February 2004. Historic Scotland is committed to producing, with full public consultation, a new series of Scottish Historic Environment Policies over the period 2005-08.


Recommendation 6
 


Historic Scotland should engage with stakeholders in a debate about the organisation’s practices. Following this process Historic Scotland should ask Ministers formally to endorse their practices. 
Historic Scotland has been developing a programme for greater engagement with stakeholders. This builds on arrangements already in place, such as regular meetings with HEACS, BEFS, the professional bodies involved in the historic environment, the Scottish Society of Directors of Planning, VisitScotland, Visit Britain, and the Travel Trade, along with counterparts like English Heritage and Cadw. There has also been greater engagement with local authorities and enterprise companies, for example through consultation on the Corporate Plan.


Recommendation 7
 


There is a role for Historic Scotland or a successor organisation in emphasising the important role of the historic environment. There are three main elements to this role:
Supporting Ministers to allow them to advocate at a political level for the historic environment;
Providing advice to organisations and individuals on how best to support and protect the historic environment, and
A capacity building role to enable non-governmental organisations to highlight issues of importance to the sector.
Historic Scotland welcomed this recommendation and we have responded to the three main elements as follows:
We continue to act as Ministers' policy advisers in respect of the historic environment;
Our new Corporate Plan explains the actions we will be taking to provide advice and support to individuals and organisations.
We are continuing our support for the voluntary heritage sector and will be reviewing what we do in 2005-06
 


Recommendation 8
 


The Chief Executive should consider how best to deliver cultural change to:
Improve communications with a greater focus on transparency and openness;
Maintain the focus on delivery including the importance of delivering services to those in remote locations; 
Increase flexibility and innovation to ensure that the organisation is responsive to change, and
Focus on building partnerships with stakeholders and customers and being open to ideas from outwith the organisation.
Historic Scotland welcomed this recommendation. We have restructured and expanded our Communications Team, including providing additional support for the revamped HS website (launched on 16 June 2004). A Communication Strategy has been approved by the Historic Scotland Board.
We have also reviewed and restructured the Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings Inspectorates, creating regional teams to focus on service delivery and stakeholder engagement.



Recommendation 9
 


It would be helpful if external challenge and support could be introduced to the Management Board through the appointment of external members.
Historic Scotland have appointed, using Nolan procedures, 3 external members to the Management Board. An additional external member has also been appointed to the Audit Committee.  


Recommendation 10
 


The Scottish Executive Planning Divisions should provide advice to Ministers on the outcome of Public Local inquiries in relation to listed buildings and scheduled monument consent applications. 
Arrangements have been put in place with Planning Divisions to implement this and the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit has been advised. Applicants are being told of the new arrangements. The new system is being monitored and will be reviewed after 2 years.


Recommendation 11
 


We recommend that the Concordat between Historic Scotland and the Scottish Executive Planning Divisions should be updated to take account of any changes arising from this review and that the Concordat should be published.
A revised text of the Concordat was agreed with Planning Divisions and is accessible through the Historic Scotland website.


Recommendation 12
 


Clear and concise information and guidance on the listed building and scheduled monument consent processes and their relationship to the planning process should be provided to all those with an interest in proceedings including planning authorities, applicants and local community organisations and heritage bodies. 
Work has begun to produce new, clear and concise guidance on these issues. New publications will issue in 2005-06.


Recommendation 13
 


Historic Scotland should seek to provide information and advice in an accessible format to owners and occupiers of listed buildings, and owners of scheduled ancient monuments focusing on the benefits of owning a listed building or ancient monument. 
Work has begun to produce new, clear and concise information and advice on these issues. New publications will issue in 2005-06.



Recommendation 14
 


There would be benefits in local authorities working together to develop shared expertise in conservation advice and listed building consent cases. 
 
Historic Scotland is working with local authorities to take this forward. A Local Authority Historic Environment Forum has been set up and held its first meeting in January 2005. We also look forward to the advice to be provided by HEACS on the role of local authorities in the conservation and management of the historic environment.


Recommendation 15
 


Historic Scotland should work with COSLA and individual planning authorities to prepare concordats or service charters setting out the role and responsibilities of different organisations in relation to the historic environment. 
Historic Scotland has met with COSLA. We are taking forward the recommendation by setting out service standards in specific areas in our Corporate Plan. We will seek to expand on this over the Plan period.


Recommendation 16
 


Historic Scotland should be encouraged to explore the scope for partnership working with organisations which share their ethos and objectives where there are mutual benefits. 
 
 
Historic Scotland already works in close partnership with a range of organisations. We have concordats with RCAHMS, the National Museums and SNH, and are working to agree one with the National Trust for Scotland. We work in partnership with HEACS, BEFS, the RIAS and RICS, and a wide range of voluntary and professional bodies. We will build on this and report both involvement and outcomes in our Annual Reports. 


Recommendation 17
 


It is important that Historic Scotland’s review of the grants process addresses the concerns identified by stakeholders. 
 
Historic Scotland has completed a major review of its historic building repair grants scheme with full consultation with stakeholders. New arrangements have been approved by Ministers. A consultation review of support to the voluntary sector and support for ancient monuments will begin in 2005-06. 


Recommendation 18
 


The fact that Historic Scotland is the guardian of last resort should not allow other agencies to ignore their responsibilities in this area. 
Historic Scotland provides formal and informal advice, information and support to a wide range of organisations. We will continue to work with and encourage others to care for the historic environment in a sustainable way.


Recommendation 19
 


The Chief Executive of Historic Scotland and the Head of the Scottish Executive Education Department should be charged with developing a set of hard targets and soft indicators. One possible option would be to split Historic Scotland’s performance targets into two groups: 
A set of hard targets, which are quantitative and can be easily measured, and 
A set of indices which relate to the quality of Historic Scotland’s work but where it is more difficult to establish measurable qualitative targets. A set of indicators could be identified which, while not presenting a complete picture, would signify the type of behaviour an organisation would be expected to exhibit if it was delivering high quality provision.
Historic Scotland has addressed this issue in the corporate planning process and has consulted with stakeholders such as HEACS, BEFS, local authorities and local enterprise companies. Key performance targets for each year are agreed with Ministers and are published. 


Recommendation 20
 


Historic Scotland’s Framework Document was last updated in 2001 and should be revised to reflect further changes, including the establishment of HEACS, and to update the delegated financial limits.
A revised Framework Document has been agreed with Scottish Ministers. It can be accessed through our website.

Justice

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being implemented to increase the conviction rate of individuals who have committed rape and how the effectiveness of the measures will be assessed.

Elish Angiolini QC: The role of the prosecution in criminal proceedings is to ensure that all relevant and admissible evidence is presented to the court. It is for juries in solemn proceedings to determine the verdict in individual cases and conviction statistics are not, therefore, a measure of the success or otherwise of the quality of the prosecution.

  In order to ensure that the prosecution fulfils its role effectively, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) embarked on a review of the investigation and prosecution of rape and other sexual offences at the end of last year. The principal aim of the review is to make recommendations for the improvement of prosecution policy and practice to ensure that the prosecution deliver a high standard of service in these cases.

  The COPFS review is working closely with experts in this field and in close liaison with the Scottish Law Commission's review of the law in this area and a parallel review being conducted by the Association of Chief Police Officers of Scotland.

  The review will report to the Lord Advocate and, subject to consideration by him, the implementation of appropriate recommendations will commence in 2006. Measures to assess the effectiveness of changes to policy and practice will be identified in the implementation programme. Whether conviction rates in rape cases will increase will ultimately be determined by juries.

Land Management

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to gather feedback on the menu of measures under Tier 2 of the Land Management Contracts Menu scheme and what plans it has to revise the menu for 2006.

Ross Finnie: Feedback has been gathered from the LMC Stakeholder Group which represents a wide range of industry and environmental bodies, and from other interested parties. It is intended to make minimal changes to the Menu Scheme for 2006. Work has been commissioned to review the first year of the Menu Scheme, and this includes a detailed analysis of the applications and focus groups with farmers. This will inform any more substantial changes to Tier 2 for 2007, as part of the introduction of LMCs in full.

Land Management

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will enable common grazings to be brought into Tier 2 of the Land Management Contracts Menu scheme in 2006.

Ross Finnie: The Menu Scheme enables land managers to carry out measures up to the limit of their individual allowance. The share of a common grazing contributes to this allowance at present and will continue to do so next year. From 2007, Tier 3 of LMCs will enable groups, such as common grazing committees, to work together on measures where appropriate. This is currently feasible under existing agri-environment schemes.

Land Management

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the biodiversity cropping measure under Tier 2 of the Land Management Contracts Menu scheme has had satisfactory uptake and whether it will increase support for this measure in 2006.

Ross Finnie: Fifty seven farmers and crofters have opted for the biodiversity cropping measure, involving 120.27 hectares. There are no plans to increase the level of support for this measure.

National Health Service

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether full access to all accounting and other relevant information will be given to NHS Highland in respect of the proposed re-drawing of boundaries between NHS Argyll and Clyde, NHS Highland and NHS Greater Glasgow.

Mr Andy Kerr: Yes, I can confirm that NHS Highland, and indeed NHS Greater Glasgow, will be given full access to all accounting and other relevant information in respect of the proposed re-drawing of boundaries between NHS Argyll and Clyde and the two boards.

  NHS Argyll and Clyde have been and will continue to work closely with NHS Highland, NHS Greater Glasgow and the Health Department on the forthcoming dissolution of the board.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18559 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, whether it will publish the independent assessments of the likely costs of construction of the Waverley Line and, if so, when.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18559 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, what the conclusions were of the independent assessments of the likely costs of construction of the Waverley Line.

Tavish Scott: The independent assessment confirmed that the construction costs as presented by the Waverley Railway Partnership are in line with what can reasonably be expected for the Waverley Line project at its current stage of development. Therefore, a detailed report has not been produced for publication.

Research and Development

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its research and development (R&D) expenditure targets are for (a) 2008 and (b) 2010 and what measures are being put in place to meet these targets.

Nicol Stephen: Although the Executive does not set specific targets for growth in R&D expenditure relative to GDP, it has a range of policies to encourage R&D and commercialisation activity in Scotland. The Executive is committed to improving Scotland’s position relative to our main competitors.

Roads

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6854 by Sarah Boyack on 7 June 2000, whether it plans to carry out a more detailed study of the options for a bypass for the A7 at Selkirk.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6855 by Sarah Boyack on 29 September 2000, whether it has carried out any further assessment of the likely construction costs of a bypass for the A7 at Selkirk.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to construct a bypass for the A7 at Selkirk.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18701 on 22 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for can be found at: http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how the building of an eastern bypass for Aberdeen would compare with the Western Peripheral Route options in terms of building costs, potential traffic reduction and environmental impact.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19278 on 29 September 2005.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to deal with any winter weather problems on each trunk road.

Tavish Scott: Comprehensive requirements for dealing with winter weather problems on trunk roads are contained in the contracts with the four trunk road Operating Companies. Each year the Operating Companies are required to translate these into Winter Maintenance Plans (WMPs) which are scrutinised by the Performance Audit Group (PAG) and approved by the Scottish Executive. Copies of the WMPs for 2004-05 are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 34250, 34251, 34252 and 34254).

  The Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contracts for the A74(M) between Millbank (Junction 12) and the Scottish Border and the M77 between Malletsheugh (Junction 5) and Meiklewood Interchange, operated by Autolink and Connect, respectively, contain similar requirements for dealing with winter weather which are also translated into WMPs. The WMPs are scrutinised by PAG for the Autolink contract and Renfrewshire Council for the Connect contract.

  The WMPs for 2005-06 have recently been approved and copies will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37611) in the near future.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which contractors are responsible for snow and ice treatment on each trunk road.

Tavish Scott: The trunk road network is divided into four geographical units, north east, north west, south east and south west. Winter maintenance on trunk roads in the north east and north west units is the responsibility of BEAR Scotland Ltd and winter maintenance on trunk roads in the south east and south west units is the responsibility of Amey Infrastructure Services.

  Winter maintenance on the A74(M) between Millbank (Junction 12) and the Scottish Border and on the M77 between Malletsheugh (Junction 5) and Meiklewood Interchange is undertaken by Autolink and Connect, respectively, as part of the Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contractual arrangements.

  A copy of the Trunk Road Units Map showing the trunk roads within each unit area is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37527).

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of snow clearing and ice treatment on each trunk road in each of the last five years.

Tavish Scott: It is not possible to provide the costs of snow clearing and ice treatment for each trunk road as winter maintenance is paid for on a unit wide basis. The costs of winter maintenance in each of the four trunk road unit areas for each of the last five years is as follows:

  

 Unit
 2000-01 (£000)
 2001-02 (£000)
 2002-03 (£000)
 2003-04 (£000)
 2004-05 (£000)
 Total (£000)


 North East
£3,680
£920
£1,024
£974
£1,017
£7,615


 North West
£5,624
£1,552
£1,691
£1,600
£1,664
£12,131


 South East
£2,976
£870
£905
£900
£905
£6,556


 South West
£3,950
£1,035
£1,057
£1,058
£1,105
£8,205


 Total
£16,230
£4,377
£4,677
£4,532
£4,691
£34,507



  The figures quoted do not include Contract Price Fluctuation (CPF). This is an inflation adjustment to tendered rates and prices.

  The winter maintenance costs of the Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contracts for the A74(M) between Millbank (Junction 12) and the Scottish Border and the M77 between Malletsheugh (Junction 5) and Meiklewood Interchange are included in the monthly payments to each DBFO contractor and cannot be identified separately.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal accidents occurred on each trunk road in the last five years.

Tavish Scott: The number of fatal accidents on each trunk road in the last five years  (January 2000 to December 2004) is as follows:

  

 Trunk Road
 Fatal Accidents


 M73
 5


 M74
 21


 M77
 2


 M8
 19


 M80
 5


 M823
 1


 M876
 1


 M898
 0


 M9
 3


 M90
 5


 A1
 6


 A6091
 0


 A68
 10


 A7
 2


 A701
 2


 A702
 12


 A720
 1


 A725
 3


 A726
 1


 A737
 6


 A738
 0


 A75
 14


 A751
 0


 A76
 10


 A77
 24


 A78
 11


 A8
 6


 A80
 3


 A82
 37


 A828
 1


 A83
 11


 A830
 2


 A835
 4


 A84
 6


 A85
 22


 A86
 0


 A87
 7


 A876
 0


 A887
 0


 A889
 1


 A893
 0


 A898
 0


 A9
 61


 A90
 48


 A92
 13


 A95
 7


 A96
 27


 A972
 0


 A977
 0


 A985
 3


 A99
 3


 Total
 426



  The figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next conduct a roads assessment of non-trunk roads.

Tavish Scott: The responsibility for non-trunk roads rests with local authorities and any decision to carry out condition surveys or other assessments is a matter for them.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget commitment it will make to improving rural roads other than trunk roads.

Tavish Scott: Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) provision for local roads is to be increased by £60m per annum in 2006-07 and 2007-08 (a 23% increase) as part of Spending Review 2004. The total GAE provision to local authorities for roads maintenance will amount to £320 million per annum by 2007-08.

  In addition, £15 million per annum will be available for local roads capital projects, to be distributed through the new Regional Transport Partnerships.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications’ visit to the Camphill Trust in Aberdeen.

Tavish Scott: The visit gave me the opportunity to meet staff and residents of the Camphill community and to get a better understanding of their concerns about the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

School Curriculum

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18690 by Peter Peacock on 20 September 2005, how much funding is available for the development of educational resources for the teaching of Scottish literature and the works of Robert Burns at both primary and secondary school levels.

Peter Peacock: In 2004-05, the Scottish Executive provided £13.7 million of funding to Learning and Teaching Scotland towards the development of educational resources. Some of this funding was directed to supporting Scots language and literacy in Scottish schools. However, there is no general prescription as to how these funds are specifically directed as it is important that Learning and Teaching Scotland respond to the changing demands of the primary and secondary teaching communities.

  The Scottish Arts Council have provided the following funding towards the promotion of Scottish Literature and Robert Burns in Scottish schools:

  

 Live Literature Scotland
£154,500
 2004-05


£164,500
 2005-06


 Itchy Coo
£150,000
 2001


£37,500
 2004


 BRAW
£30,000
 2004

Scottish Executive Consultation

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-18038 and S2W-18654 answered by Rhona Brankin on 19 August and 13 September 2005 respectively, what definition of "written" its agencies and departments use in respect of responses to consultations.

Ms Margaret Curran: There is no formal definition. In relation to Scottish Executive consultation exercises, we would generally regard a response as "written" if it is transmitted in a legible form by whatever means, for example post or e-mail, comments submitted through on-line response forms, petitions and campaign letters.

Scottish Executive Funding

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jointly funded initiatives and events it has held with other external bodies in each year since 1999, listing each event and how much funding it provided for each event.

Mr Tom McCabe: This information is not held centrally.

Scottish Water

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much compensation was paid to landowners by Scottish Water in each of the last three years, broken down by reason for compensation where appropriate, such as that arising from the installation of new water and sewerage systems, and showing year-on-year percentage increases.

Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for Scottish Water. I have forwarded your request to Scottish Water’s Chief Executive and asked him to write to you.

Sport

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17298 by Tavish Scott on 23 June 2005, whether it will now announce its decision on the relocation of  sportscotland.

Patricia Ferguson: The issue of the relocation of  sportscotland is still under consideration and an announcement will be made in due course.

Technology

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to participate or encourage participation from Scotland in joint European technology initiatives.

Nicol Stephen: Member states have still to agree the details of the Commission’s proposals on Joint Technology Initiatives under European Framework Programme 7 and whether or not they are prepared to commit to funding them.

  The Executive and its agencies are working with the UK government to make sure that the FP7 proposals as a whole are satisfactory for the UK and that Scotland will be in a position to take best advantage when details are finally agreed.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the boundaries of the regional transport partnerships under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 will accord with those referred to in its news release 105820 on 21 July 2005.

Tavish Scott: A draft Regional Transport Partnership (Establishment and Constitution) (Scotland) Order 2005 was circulated to local authorities and SPT on 21 July 2005. This included proposals for the boundaries of the regional transport partnerships. I am carefully considering all comments received, on boundaries and other matters, before lodging the final Order in Parliament.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it received in favour of the proposal for an islands regional transport partnership, announced in its news release 105820 on 21 July 2005.

Tavish Scott: One.

Transport

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to the Northern Maritime Corridor project.

Tavish Scott: The Executive has been working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Orkney Islands Council, lead partners in the Northern Maritime Corridor project, to promote and market to potential investors the proposal to establish a container transhipment facility at Scapa Flow.

Transport

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to the Motorway of the Northern Seas project.

Tavish Scott: The Executive supports modal shift from road to sea which the Motorway of the Northern Sea project seeks to encourage and will work with those looking to develop proposals that meet the aims of the project.

Transport (Scotland) Act 2005

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward its proposals for the boundaries of the regional transport partnerships under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005.

Tavish Scott: Proposals for boundaries of the regional transport partnerships were included in the draft Regional Transport Partnership (Establishment and Constitution) (Scotland) Order 2005 that was circulated to local authorities and SPT on 21 July 2005. I am currently considering all comments received on those proposals and will be lodging the final Order before Parliament soon.

Young People

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in respect of the implementation of the European Youth Pact under the Lisbon agenda; what areas of the pact have already been implemented, and what further actions it intends to take to implement the pact.

Nicol Stephen: The Youth Pact aims to improve the education and training of young Europeans and to integrate policies aimed at young people fully into the Lisbon process. The pact acknowledges that it can only succeed with the involvement of regional and local authorities and others and proposes actions in three areas: Employment, integration and social advancement; Education, training and mobility; Reconciliation of working life and family life. The Executive fully supports the Communication from the Commission to the Council published on 30 May 2005 that proposes measures for implementation of the Youth Pact. In Scotland, our priorities already reflect these measures well. Examples include democratic citizenship where "Values and Citizenship" are embedded across the entire school curriculum via the fourth of our five National Priorities in Education and our strategies for enterprise and lifelong learning, which have expanded the opportunities on offer to young people beyond school age. Supporting young people into education, training and employment are pivotal in achieving the Lisbon goals.